As the Phillies were rallying for two runs in the ninth inning to tie Sunday’s game against Arizona –- they eventually won it, 4-2, on a two-run single by Ryan Howard in the 10th (see story) –- all eyes were on the team’s bullpen.
Tie game on the road in the ninth. The situation called for Mike Adams.
But as the inning unfolded, Adams never got up. Antonio Bastardo did. Justin De Fratus did. No Adams.
The right-hander was bitten by back spasms during the last few minutes of batting practice. He tried to get loose, but in the sixth inning told bullpen coach Rod Nichols that he was a no-go.
“It’s the first time I ever had to bow out of a game,” Adams said. “I’ve had little spasms before but nothing this extreme.”
The Phillies are off Monday so Adams has time to flush out the spasm.
De Fratus, just up from Triple A, got one of the biggest outs of the game when he struck out slugger Paul Goldschmidt (.304, 9 homers, 30 RBIs) with a runner on first to end the ninth and keep the game tied. De Fratus got Goldschmidt on a 93-mph fastball with the count full.
“To be put into the fire like that in your first outing and get a punchout,” Adams said. “That was awesome.”